This is an opportunist, but welcome, move by Vertigo Films, giving a belated UK release to the second film of the man who is directing the new Thor. Quite why Waititi's 2010 production never got released over here is a mystery. It's an improvement on debut Eagle vs Shark and has much of the odd, endearing charm of his most celebrated film Hunt for the Wilderpeople.

Rollestone is a boy named Boy, the oldest of a group of children being looked after by a granny who leaves at the start of the film. They're growing up a tough and poor Maori community in early 80s, when Michael Jackson and ET are the main cultural icons. Then his dad (Waititi) reappears after a spell in prison and begins to reconnect with his Boy, and the other son he hadn't seen, Rocky (Eketone-Whitu.)

Waitiki has a lovely, relaxed comedic style. He creates quite broad comedic characters and situations but then lets them play out in an unforced way. The result is gently hilarious; you laugh out loud while being totally enthralled and engaged with the characters. The film is good on the absurdity of school boy bragging and threats “Touch my brother and I'll kick both your nuts off.” The most poiganat moments are often the funniest. A teacher tells Boy he has potential. Boy asks him what potential means, but he just looks at his watch and says it's gone 3.30 and he's off the clock now.

Waititi's movie fuses the best bits of Bill Forsyth and Richard Ayode. All the little cinematic touches and flourishes, the little moments of animation, seem instinctive and unforced. You never get the sense that he is trying to show off you with how good he is at making films, he just wants to make the characterisations that bit richer. Boy is a little gem, well worth the seven year wait. I can't wait to see how Waititi's gifts will show themselves under Thor's hammer.